Yield Enhancing Device Shockwave Guide Reactive Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Higher yield explosive ordnance poses increased hazards during storage and handling, necessitating a method to enhance yield without increasing or potentially decreasing these hazards.
Innovation Solution
A yield-enhancing device comprising an energetic charge, a guide, and a reactive material, where the energetic charge produces a shockwave that is focused onto the reactive material to create a plasma, releasing stored energy, thereby increasing the explosive yield with potentially reduced hazardous material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If higher yield explosive ordnance is used, then the explosive yield is increased, but the hazards associated with storage and handling are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The explosive system is divided into two separate components: a low-yield energetic charge and a high-energy reactive material. The energetic charge is segmented into a driver portion and an optional liner portion, which are positioned in specific spatial relationships to the reactive material. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high yield through the reactive material while the energetic charge remains small and safe to handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The energetic charge is positioned and configured in advance to create a focused shockwave that will activate the reactive material when needed. The guide structure is pre-positioned to channel the shockwave energy efficiently onto the reactive material, ensuring that the high yield is achieved only when the system is deliberately activated, not during storage or handling.
2Productivity
If more energetic material is used to increase yield, then the explosive yield is increased, but the amount of hazardous material is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the energy density parameter by introducing reactive material with significantly higher energy content than conventional explosives. The reactive material is activated only when needed through the shockwave mechanism, allowing the system to achieve high yield with a small quantity of hazardous energetic charge that serves as the trigger rather than the main energy source.
3Loss of energy
If a guide structure is added to focus the shockwave, then the energy transfer efficiency is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure serves as an intermediary component between the energetic charge and the reactive material. This guide channels and focuses the shockwave energy from the driver charge onto the reactive material, improving energy transfer efficiency. The guide can be a simple geometric structure or a more complex configured element, but it acts as a mediator that directs energy flow without requiring complex control systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for a higher yield explosion with reduced amounts of energetic material, enhancing safety by minimizing the hazards associated with handling and storage of explosive ordnance.
Implementation Method 1
The shockwave may be produced by detonating an energetic charge
Implementation Method 2
imparting the shockwave at an effective velocity and temperature on a fluid to create and drive a plasma
Implementation Method 3
The shockwave may be produced by detonating an energetic charge
Implementation Method 4
impacting the plasma on a reactive material to release energy stored in the reactive material
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for enhancing explosive yield is provided. The apparatus generally includes an energetic charge operatively associated with a guide. The guide is operatively associated with a reactive material. According to an aspect of the method, the energetic charge is activated to produce a shockwave to impact a reactive material. The shockwave is focused by the guide to impact the reactive material. Impacting the reactive material releases energy in the reactive material to enhance the yield of the energetic charge.